There is no sign of a temporary for Track 1 eastbound, which would also be needed to remove the bridge. If this is a temporary it is in a bad spot as it is before the switch where the Kalamazoo Branch enters Track 2, So I am thinking permanent signal for the Kalamazoo Branch. However, I expect the Kalamazoo Branch signal to have a single red light for the top head not 3 over 3. A "Clear" signal from a route passing through the diverging side of a switch? The Kalamazoo Branch gets that now but the track is physically straight to Track 2.

Last edited by justalurker66 on Fri Sep 22, 2017 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I was there when the NS was installing the new signal by the CP 421 bridge and it is for the Kalamazoo Branch. I heard if from one of the supervisors myself as one of the workers was asking what it was for.

That location for the Kalamzoo Branch signal would allow a train serving the E&W to clear the switch east of Prairie St without entering the interlocking. They might even be able to stop short of Middlebury St and be clear of both road crossings. More importantly, an eastbound could clear the interlocking and stop to open the switch to the E&W.

Although the way current CP 421 is wired, once the train is clear of the diamond the interlocking behind the train can be changed before the train clears the current signals. I have seen that with eastbound branch trains.

GTW wrote:I was there when the NS was installing the new signal by the CP 421 bridge and it is for the Kalamazoo Branch. I heard if from one of the supervisors myself as one of the workers was asking what it was for.

Obtained an aerial shot from atop the new 5 mast signal bridge. Eastward view by the way which shows how the new mains, new coach track and both freight leads line up now at 421. Looks good in the drawing.

As of today the new signal at the east end of the interlock for west bounds is in place with nine signal heads on their three mast. Didn't have camera at the time. Can some else take a shot and post? Just east of the Prairie St overpass behind St Vincent church.

Dajudge wrote:As of today the new signal at the east end of the interlock for west bounds is in place with nine signal heads on their three mast. Didn't have camera at the time. Can some else take a shot and post? Just east of the Prairie St overpass behind St Vincent church.

Which of the top heads have 3 lights as opposed to those that only have one top light for red. This will give an idea of how the track movements will be set up. This doesn't apply for the bottom two heads as you can get medium approach medium, medium clear, restricting, and other indications from those signals.

All three tracks will be main tracks straight through the interlocking. All three tracks should have the same signal heads. I'll see if I can get a shot tomorrow, but based on the previous photos I took I believe it will be three three light signal heads for each track (no more limiting the signal to Medium Speed). All three head aspects will be available.

(I couldn't see the bottom heads in my photos. And of course everything is subject to change. Even if the heads are there today they can be removed.)

CP412

(BTW: The new signals at CP 423 have three heads with three lights for all three tracks EB and Tracks 1 and 2 WB. Track 3 WB at CP 423 has a single red light as the top head for trains entering the yard/early bird track.)

It looks like Track 3 WB at CP 421 will be different than Track 2 and Track 3 (2 over 3 over 2 instead of the full 3 heads).The next signal at CP 423 is 1 over 3 over 3 on Track 3.(Signal crews are out at CP 423 at the moment.)

From the "subject to change" department ... the Kalamazoo Branch signal has been changed to a more expected arrangement. The "South Freight" signal is also on the bridge in the same 1 over 3 over 3 arrangement.

And a little to the east on the branch is the replacement CP 95. The signals are bagged but I believe it is 2 over 3 WB and 3 over 2 EB at CP 95.

9xs wrote:Which of the top heads have 3 lights as opposed to those that only have one top light for red. This will give an idea of how the track movements will be set up. This doesn't apply for the bottom two heads as you can get medium approach medium, medium clear, restricting, and other indications from those signals.

Eliminating the top green removes "Clear" (a train staying on Track 3 would get Approach or Approach Medium depending on what is set at CP 423).Eliminating the bottom green removes "Slow Clear" and "Medium Approach Medium".(Slow Approach would flash the lower yellow. The limited aspects would not be used due to the curve speed.)

LakeATCS wrote:Can't signal the "Early bird" between 426 and 423. Too many yard switches and it runs right thru the fueling station. So I suspect we will have the status quo. Unsignaled running track from 426 to 423

The Coach Track has one switch crossing over to North Freight just west of Oakland Ave. That makes it a prime candidate to become a third track. The WB cantilever at CP 423 has the signals spaced to match the current track spacing (with a larger gap between Track 3 and Track 2 than there is between Track 2 and Track 1.

I heard a confused engineer on the radio today tell the dispatcher that he was waiting on the Coach Track and wanted to move. The dispatcher corrected him to let him know he was on the Early Bird and gave permission. (A train on the Coach Track would have had bigger problems with the closure at the east end.)